Loose-leaf binder.



No. 787,721. PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

1 A. BOWEN. L00$E LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

{I Y I /NVENTOR v div/207M UNITED STATES Patented April is, 1905.

PATENT ,QFFICE.

PHILIP A. BOWEN, OF PASSAIO, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROY C. BOWEN, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,721, dated April 18, 1905.

' Application fil d June 13,1904. Serial No. 212,268.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP A. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Passaic, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of loose-leaf binders in which the binding-bars located upon the respective sides of the leaves to be bound are temporarily secured together upon the respective sides of the leaves by a plurality of connecting-rods; and it pertains more especially, first, to the device by which the bars are locked at any desired point of adjustment nearer to or farther from each other upon the rods; second, to the device for releasing the locking mechanism of the binding-bars upon two or more of the connectingrods at the same time.

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a side view of the binder. Fig. 2 represents a top view or a view as it would appear from the upper side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the locking mechanism by which the binding-bars are locked at any desired point of adjustment upon the connecting-rods, andFig. 4 is a transverse section drawn on line :0 m of Fig. 3.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A represents a so-called stationary binding-bar, which is connected with the adjustable bar B by the connecting-rods G C. The bars A and B are securely locked nearer to or farther from each other at any desired point of adjustment upon the connecting-rods C by the locking mechanism D, hereinafter described. The locking mechanism D comprises an exterior sleeve E, which is rigidly secured at its lower end to the bar B, interior sleeve F, which is slidably supported upon the rod C within the sleeve E, and one or more balls or movable bearings G, which are located in a chamber H between the exterior sleeve E and the rod C within the apertures G, provided therefor in theinner sleeve F.

The lower end of the sleeve E is provided with an annular recess 1, formed for the reception of the spiral spring J, and with an inwardly-projecting shoulder K, which serves as a bearing for the upper end of said spiral spring J. The lower end of the inner sleeve F is provided with a radial flange L, against which the lower end of said spring J is adapted to bear. Thus it is obvious that when the spiral spring J is compressed and interposed between said shoulders K and radial flange L said interior sleeve F will be drawn downwardly within the exterior sleeve by the recoil of said spring, whereby the ball or hearing G, which is interposed between the rod 0 and the exterior sleeve E, will be drawn downwardly andinwardly against the converging walls of the cham ber H, and thereby caused to impinge against the surface of the connecting-rod C, whereby said parts will be rigidly locked together.

To release the locking mechanism as may be desired when moving the bar B upon the rods 0, it is necessary simply to draw the interior sleeve F outwardly. By so doing the impinging balls Gr are drawn toward the upper diverging end of the sleeve E, whereby they are thrown out of impinging contact with the rods, when the -bar B is readily moved upon the supporting-rods. To facilitate in thus releasing the locking mechanism, I preferably connect the several sleeves D together by a single releasing-bar M, which bar M is provided with perforations N for the reception of the sleeves F. The upper ends of the sleeves F are provided with a radial flange O, which serves as a bearing for the releasingbar M and retains said bar in place upon the sleeve. It will be obvious that by drawing upwardly upon the releasing-bar M the several sleeves F will be drawn outwardly and away from the inclosing sleeves E, whereby the locking mechanism by which said sleeves are locked to the connecting-rod C will be released, thereby permitting the bar B to be drawn upwardly upon said rods. While I have shown but two connecting-rods between the bars A and B, it is obvious that the number may be increased, if desired, according to the length or WlClth'Of the book which is being bound thereby. In case a greater number of conmeeting-rods O are employed the releasing-bar M will be extended and connected with the locking mechanism of each. The sides of the releasing-bar M are preferably curved inwardly and downwardly toward the bar B, whereby as the thumb and fingers of the operator are grasped around the respective sides of the releasing-bar and between such bar and the binding-bar B said releasing-bar M and binding-bar B will be forced apart or away from each other by such pressure, whereby said bar B may be readily raised or moved in either direction without interference from the locking mechanism. When, however, the releasing-bar M is relieved from the grasp of the operator, it is thrown away from the binding-bar B by the recoil of the springs J, as previously mentioned, and said parts are instantaneously locked at such point. WhileI have shown and preferablyemploy three balls or movable bearings G, a greater or less number may, if desired, be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with each of the connecting-rods of the stationary and slidable binding-bars, of an interior sleeve provided with one or more ballreceiving apertures slidably supported upon the bar-connecting rod; an exterior sleeve formed with a wedging surface on its inner side rigidly affixed at one end to the slidable binding-bar; a ball or balls located in the aperture or apertures of the inner sleeve between said exterior sleeve and said connecting-rod and means for automatically drawing the interior sleeve with said ball or balls into said exterior sleeve, whereby said ball is caused to impinge against said connecting-rod and lock said sleeves and rod together.

2. In a loose-leaf binder of the described class, the combination with the several rods by which the binding-bars are adjustably connected together, of a pair of telescoping sleeves connected with each of said binding-rods, one of each pair of said sleeves being rigidly connected at one end with one of said bindingbars and the other sleeve being slidably supported upon the connecting-rods within said first-named sleeve; means for automatically locking said telescoping sleeves and rods together and a single releasing-bar connected with the protruding ends of all of said interior sleeves and adapted as it is moved away from the binding-bar to simultaneously disengage the fastening mechanism by which said sleeves and connecting-rods are interlocked together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with each of the rods by which the bindingbars are connected together, of an interior sleeve slidably supported upon said rods,an exterior ball-receiving sleeve having inwardlyconverging walls at one end and a spring-re ceiving chamber at its opposite end; balls located in apertures of the inner sleeve; aspiral spring located in said spring-receiving cham+ ber adapted to retain said sleeve, balls and rods in their interlocking position and means for simultaneously partially withdrawing said inner sleeves from said exterior sleeves and releasing the locking mechanism preparatory to separating and adjusting said binding-bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP A. BOWEN.

Witnesses RICHARD B NeER, PETER LENZ. 

